dead rising
Latest
Dead Rising v. Dawn of the Dead
According to a PDF file acquired by The Hollywood Reporter Esq., Capcom is looking to protect itself against the similarities found between the 2006 best seller Dead Rising and the film classic, George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead. In the claim Capcom states that based on current copyright law "humans battling zombies in a shopping mall" is a "wholly unprotectible idea."The filing, from February 12, comes as a response to a complaint issued to Capcom, Microsoft and Best Buy from The MKR Group, who owns the rights to both versions of the Dawn of the Dead films. In the Capcom filing the publisher lists they made unsuccessful attempts to contact the MKR Group and that the game also features a disclaimer that reads, "This game was not developed, approved or licensed by the owners or creators of George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead."File this one under the "that took longer than we thought" section of the "it was bound to happen" cabinet and as the second zombie related post of the week.[Via Joystiq]
Dead Rising, Dawn of the Dead similarities spark legal filings
Capcom is looking to protect its right to kill hordes of zombies in a shopping center. In a legal complaint filed this week (PDF file via The Hollywood Reporter Esq.), the game publisher asserts that "humans battling zombies in a shopping mall" is a "wholly unprotectible idea" under today's copyright laws.The reason for Capcom's fair use claim reportedly comes from a draft complaint sent to the company (as well as Microsoft and Best Buy) by The MKR Group, who claim intellectual ownership of both Dawn of the Dead films. Capcom's filing notes that the company unsuccessfully tried to discuss the matter and that the game features a disclaimer that reads, "This game was not developed, approved or licensed by the owners or creators of George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead."It's time to conduct a very (ahem) scientific poll.%Poll-9478%
Vote Capcom faves into We Love Golf
Camelot's upcoming Wii golf title We Love Golf will feature Capcom-flavored alternate costumes for its male and female golfers, allowing players to tee off as Chun Li, Apollo Justice, Jill Valentine, or Arthur from Ghouls 'n Ghosts. The fun doesn't stop there, however, as Capcom is allowing fans to vote on the final two Capcom characters to be included in the North American and European versions of the game.By heading over to the official Capcom blog, players will be able to vote for one female character, and one male character. Female character choices consist of Cammy (Street Fighter), Morrigan (Darkstalkers), Rouge (Power Stone), Roll Caskett (Mega Man Legends), and Ashley Graham (Resident Evil 4).The male options are Frank West (Dead Rising), Balrog (Street Fighter), Guy (Final Fight), Ken (Street Fighter), Dhalsim (Street Fighter), and Captain Commando (former Capcom mascot and protagonist of the arcade game of the same name). At the moment, Ken and Morrigan are both leading their respective polls. Of course, we wonder why Capcom can't simply include all the characters in the game, but we'll take what we can get.[Via Wii Fanboy]
Capcom lets you choose who loves Golf
As the picture above demonstrates, Camelot's We Love Golf will allow us to play a round as Apollo Justice, while other characters confirmed for the title include Chun Li (Street Fighter), Jill Valentine (Resident Evil 3), and Arthur (Ghouls 'n Ghosts). We can't comprehend how anybody would not want to play golf as Apollo Justice, but if you're not a fan of the bequiffed lawyer (weirdo), then Capcom has set up a poll on its official blog to ask readers which characters they'd most like to see in the U.S and European versions of the game.You can vote for one female and one male character, with Cammy (Street Fighter), Morrigan (Darkstalkers), Rouge (Power Stone), Roll Caskett (Mega Man Legends), and Ashley Graham (Resident Evil) making up the female category.Meanwhile, the male list consists of Frank West (Dead Rising), Balrog (Street Fighter), Guy (Final Fight), Ken (Street Fighter), Dhalsim (Street Fighter), and Captain Commando (from, uh, Captain Commando). And yes, we know of at least one person who will be sorely disappointed with the lack of Zangief in that selection.
Rumor: Dead Rising 2 being developed in the West
Continuing this week's rumor filled rumor pile of rumors, word comes down the pipeline that Capcom's no so confirmed baby Dead Rising 2 is not only real and in development, but is being worked on by a Western developer. Shock and awe!The rumor comes straight out of the March issue of EGM and although they don't reveal too many specifics, EGM does hint that Dead Rising 2's Western developer is based in L.A. Our friends over at Joystiq are putting their developer chips on Gearbox as we say "Dead Rising 2? ZOMG!" We guess it's also worth mentioning that they claim the zombie sequel is being developed as multi-platform title. Meh to that.[Via Joystiq]
Rumor: Dead Rising 2 being handled by western developer
The latest issue of EGM is imparting some spicy rumors upon us. Perhaps most shocking is word that Capcom may be passing the buck on Dead Rising 2, leaving the sequel in the hopefully-capable hands of a North American developer. The rumor doesn't state which studio would be working on the Dead Rising followup, although it does suggest that the developer is based in Los Angeles -- ruling out our guess of Texas-based Gearbox Studios, who only recently announced a "really big" project in pre-production. Of course, they wouldn't call it a rumor if it were necessarily true. We'd like to see Capcom remain involved with the Dead Rising franchise, but if it does in fact pass on to a western studio we can only hope it falls into the right hands.
Gears of War goes Platinum Hits ... in Japan
If you have yet to purchase Gears of War the first question that comes to our mind is why the heck not? Seriously, why haven't you purchased the game? And if we're any good at reading minds then we're sure your response has something to due with the fact that the game released last year and still retails for $59. Good point, but if you live in Japan or are all about ordering region-free games online then you no longer have an excuse.Gears of War has officially gone Platinum Hits and received the discounted price tag for our friends in Japan. But you can still get a copy, because Play-Asia has the cheaper and region-free GoW Platinum Hits title for only $29 with $3 in shipping charges. Not too shabby. Also, if you are a proud owner of a Japanese Xbox 360, you can pick up a Platinum Hits double pack featuring both Gears of War and Dead Rising and for $49. Also, not too shabby. Our only question to Microsoft is; when the heck does Western civilization get Platinum Gears?[Via Xboxic]
On saving your game
So after being recommended it by a friend a long time ago, and being in a zombie mood, I finally rented Dead Rising last night for my Xbox 360, and while it was a lot of fun, I was really distraught to find that the save system is old school. To save, you had to go to a certain place, and press a button. Die before you saved, and all your progress was lost.Why was this so shocking to me? For one, I've gotten used to the easy breezy, checkpoint saving system of most games nowadays-- hit a point in progress, and your game automatically saves for you, so that if you lose the game for any reason, you can simply load up the last checkpoint and keep going. But the other factor in my save-system shock was all those MMOs I've played. In persistent world online gaming, there is no longer such a thing as "saving" your game.Is that good or bad?
Dead Rising 2 not in the works, being considered
Considered by many to be one of the best games available on the Xbox 360, most of us thought a sequel to Dead Rising was a certainty. It may then come as a surprise to fans to learn that the game is currently not in production at all. In a recent interview, Keiji Inafune told Game Informer that he'd like to produce a potential sequel, but it's not in the works right now. Inafune adds that the game is being considered in Japan, and that it's the one project being considered that he'd like to produce the most, but there are still many technical and financial issues to be considered. X3F readers will know that both Dead Rising and Lost Planet were very successful in the west, but not so much in Capcom's native land of Japan. Anyone want to take odds odds on seeing Resident Evil 5 before Dead Rising 2?
Inafune says Dead Rising 2 not in production
Mmmmm, angry brains. Despite what we've been told, apparently Dead Rising 2 is not in production according to a Game Informer interview with producer Keiji Inafune. Inafune says that it is something he would "love" to make, but his responsibilities at the moment don't allow for that kind of time. He says Dead Rising 2 is a title being considered by Capcom Japan and if they announce it, he would want to produce, but he doesn't clearly state that the game is on hold because he wants to be the one to do it. Sad news for Dead Rising fans who were probably expecting an announcement that the sequel would be around sometime late next year. Despite being successful in the States and Europe, Inafune's Dead Rising and Lost Planet didn't do so well in Japan. Maybe it's time for Microsoft to apply a little pressure with Capcom on behalf of those who don't really care about Monster Hunter Freedom 2 and want a little more Frank West in their life ... we know MS knows how to spend money for what they want.
Lost Planet and Dead Rising haven't broken 100K in Japan
This info is definitely not lost in translation with the universal language of numbers. According to Capcom's own sales records (chart after the break), neither Lost Planet nor Dead Rising broke 100K units sold in Japan. This isn't really the most shocking of news given the sales of the Xbox 360 in Japan, but it does show the game resonated with North American and European audiences more. Despite tepid sales in Japan, both titles sold outside the Land of the Rising Sun to the tune of 1.4 million copies each, signs of Capcom's growing global focus. Now, before you go pointing at cultural differences -- highlighted by Monster Hunter Freedom 2 for the PSP selling 1.2 million units, while the PS2 versions of RE4 also couldn't break 100K -- here's some fun info: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which was published by Capcom in Japan, sold 430K units. So, frozen tundras don't resonate with Japanese gamers, neither does a mall full of zombies, but playing a gang-banger bent on ghetto domination sells 200% more than Dead Rising and Lost Planet combined. Ah, good times.
Japan shuns Lost Planet and Dead Rising
As part of their 2006 fiscal year reporting, Capcom released sales numbers that prove that Japan hasn't been feeling Lost Planet or Dead Rising. According to their numbers, both games sold pretty well in North America and Europe, Dead Rising selling 730,000 and Lost Planet selling 810,000 copies in North America alone. But Japan is another story all together as both games have yet to sell even 100,000 copies, which makes up for less than 10% of each games' total sales. We understand that both Lost Planet and Dead Rising were geared towards Western audiences, so less than fantastic Japanese sales were a given. But we didn't think Japanese gamers would avoid these gems like the black plague. Don't worry though, Lost Planet or Dead Rising, we still love you and you can crash on our couch anytime you want.
Inafune worried about recouping next-gen Mega Man cost
Keije Inafune, who broke away from the legacy of Mega Man with Dead Rising and Lost Planet, says a next-gen Mega Man would be a financial gamble. He estimates a next-gen title starring the blue bomber would cost approximately $15 million. This is the part where it gets weird. Inafune says that from a producer standpoint he's worried about recouping the cost of development and more than once says he's waiting for someone rich to come along and fund it -- and it doesn't have to be Capcom."I'm not even saying it has to be Capcom money. It could be EA, actually. I should say a company we have ties with, so maybe Rockstar," Inafune said in an interview with 1UP (video after the break). He believes, from a producer standpoint, the financial risks are too great to make a new Mega Man and says, "Realistically, I would have to say, I would be worried if it would recoup the money we spend."After that the interview turns into questions about Mega Man Legends 3 and having Inafune draw for the reporters. It is interesting to see the man behind the blue bomber say that a next-gen Mega Man would be a financial gamble. Has the series lost any type of solid financial backing? Is Capcom taking a breather from spending money and upgrading the series to next-gen by focusing on other IPs? Could Inafune just be sick of doing Mega Man? What we do know is that Inafune has plenty on his plate right now with sequels to Dead Rising and the rumored Lost Planet follow up.
Dead Rising: Frank gets free clothes again
If you're thinking Frank West's wardrobe is getting a tad stale, then we've got a couple of free clothing options for you. Up on the Marketplace you can download three new locker keys for Dead Rising that'll unlock three outfits including a pure white suit, stripe outfit, and an accountant look. Old Frank will feel like a new man! All three outfits are free and ready for download, so plop in Dead Rising and be sure to have Frank try on the white suit. It may get blood stained really fast, but killing zombies will have never looked so good!
Dead Rising's Frank West gets change of clothes
Sure, Capcom can't fix the tiny-text or give us that delicious co-op rumor, but they sure can give us more outfits for Frank West in Dead Rising. Major Nelson tells us that Capcom released some free goodies and some micro-pain-ment things. The free stuff is a Pure White Suit, Stripe Suit and Accountant Suit. The stuff they'll charge you for is "to celebrate Dead Rising and Lost Planet reaching a million" units sold. There are four theme packs being sold for 150 MS points ($1.87) each. Yup, that's a way to show gratitude, celebrate people purchasing your game by charging them more. We're just going to ignore that slap in the face by saying we'll be happy when we get some information on Dead Rising 2.
Getting deep on Dead Rising
GameCareerGuide.com gives Dead Rising a New Yorker Magazine-style treatment and goes all highbrow in reminiscing about the title. Dead Rising occupies a very strange place in gaming. It was obviously a hit and talks of a sequel were already in the works a week after the game premiered. But, putting aside the tiny-text and the punishing save system, those horrors were eclipsed by Otis and that walkie-talkie. There's plenty of "drinks at the Palm" moments in the piece. Like you'll have to read all three pages to understand what this quote actually means, "Dead Rising has, as you might put it, a profoundly 'old-school' sensibility -- a pre-Miyamoto one, even. Its goal is to recapture what once made video games entertaining, by getting rid of many of the institutionalized assumptions that have made them boring, or frustrating, or arbitrary." Highbrow analysis aside, Dead Rising certainly was a game where the concept was in the right place, along with the writing, the heart, the brains -- mmmm, brains. It was the structure of the game that hurt, especially the menacing way you failed for missing one of those picky, picky case files. The GCG piece actually explains that one should think of Dead Rising as a classic game where you should expect to play it through on one life. Fail? Well, then you should start over. Yeah, the piece gets weird, but that's because you have "institutionalized assumptions" about what to expect from a game. Read the piece and then come back to let us know what you think -- we know you will.
Dead Rising and Lost Planet staying exclusive
Capcom's director of strategic planning Christian Svensson commented on their official forums to whether or not Dead Rising or Lost Planet would be appearing on the PS3 or Wii in the future. Bluntly put, it doesn't look like it's going to happen. Svensson says that both games are "not slated to appear on Wii or PS3 as far as current plans go" going on to say that he is "bound by NDAs on these matters so I can't divulge why this is the situation". We guess that with the Playstation 3 losing exclusives left and right, it's fair to question whether any of our previously thought Xbox 360 exclusives may be headed for multi-platform. But, in this case, we're happy to report that both Dead Rising and Lost Planet are pretty much locked up to stay 360 exclusives for the long haul. [Via Joystiq]
Dead Rising and Lost Planet to remain Xbox 360 exclusives
var digg_url = 'http://www.digg.com/gaming_news/Dead_Rising_and_Lost_Planet_to_remain_Xbox_360_exclusives'; At least "as far as current plans go." So says Capcom's senior director of strategic planning and research, Christian Svensson, posting on the official Capcom forums in the midst of a Devil May Cry outcry. When asked by fans whether the company's new mulitplatform strategy would extend to their pair of successful Xbox 360 titles, Svensson explains that "Dead Rising and Lost Planet are not slated to appear on Wii or PS3," noting that the reasons for the continued exclusivity "are quite convoluted" and are bound by a slew of suspicious non-disclosure agreements. He goes on to say that Capcom's current approach -- which sees Resident Evil 5 and Devil May Cry 4 coming to both PS3 and Xbox 360 -- is for future titles and isn't meant to be applied in a "retroactive" manner. Of course, this comes just days after Svensson used the forum to respond to sulking petitioners and their disdain for Devil May Cry gracing multiple platforms. "We are certainly moved that people are so passionate about our products that they would go to such extremes," he said in a seperate thread. "At the same time we feel that allowing more people access to our content pleases far more people than it displeases (after all, we're not denying DMC4 to anyone that was already going to get it). It really is the best decision for the company and for consumers." Apparently, Dead Rising and Lost Planet simply missed the multiplatform boat. [Thanks, mocoworm]
Dead Rising gets its OST
Those of you looking to get your groove on while chilling in a mall and massacring zombies now have you chance, as the Original Soundtrack for Dead Rising has been announced. Ordering online will also net you a snazzy T-Shirt designed by Yoshiki Takahashi, who did the layout for the Kill Bill posters. It seems to be limited edition as our Babelfishery indicates there are only producing 2000 sets. If you buy it now, it will cost you a little over fifty bucks, but there are talks of the soundtrack making its way to Europe and North America. Did you enjoy Dead Rising enough to want to pick up some cool swag and its tunes? [Via QJ.net]
Rumor: Co-op may be coming to Dead Rising
Keeping the rumor mill a twirling, Xboxic received word that in the latest issue of EGM they reporting that Capcom has co-op aspirations for Dead Rising. EGM says that when Dead Rising comes to the platinum hits catalog that it will include a new online co-op feature. At the same time there will be a co-op patch downloadable via the XBLM for current Dead Rising owners, but it will not be free. Do you think an online co-op patch could breathe new life into an aging Dead Rising or would you be dead set (get it?) against paying extra for the option via a download? Come on ... spill your guts!
